Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 16 to 28 of 28
  1. #16
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Location
    Brisbane
    Age
    57
    Posts
    1,311

    Default

    Some years back my mate was a teacher. You wouldn't believe the things 10 and 11 year old boys can turn out.
    You said yours were 10 and 8. They could have been in the shed 6 years ago.
    By the time mine was 4 I had already taught him how to hammer nails. I wrote his name on a pine block. Then he studded it with small tacks. I started the nails for him (this is the bit that risks fingers) Then he sent the nails home with his little hammer. That block hung around the workshop for years afterwards.
    So you just design something that is simple enough for their age and experience and supervise them very closely. Remember that small children have short attention spans. So in my example, he didn't hammer all those nails in one sitting.
    Also you can design something related to their other interests. For example a mini wooden pirate chest to store their game controllers in. Build a dinosaur on a scroll saw. Stuff like that.

  2. # ADS
    Google Adsense Advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Age
    2010
    Posts
    Many





     
  3. #17
    Join Date
    Jun 1999
    Location
    Westleigh, Sydney
    Age
    77
    Posts
    9,542

    Default

    Dave, hammering nails into his name is a great idea. At that age, I loved driving tacks in with a hammer, but that idea would have been the icing on the cake.
    Visit my website
    Website
    Facebook

  4. #18
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    Mooroopna, Victoria, Australia
    Age
    33
    Posts
    228

    Default

    Whenever they show interest is my advice. Obviously you need to work out what is safe for them to do, but I've had my 4yo and 18mo both help with doing up screws by hand. It took a lot longer but they both loved it and so did I really. My 18mo likes to come and sweep the floor for me aswell, which is always welcome and I've helped my 4yo drill some holes in scrap blocks while it was in the vice. He got a great kick out of it and it was a great oppurtunity to teach him how to do things safely.

    just make it clear to your boys what they are and aren't allowed to do and why.
    I cut it twice and it's still to short.

  5. #19
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Strathalbyn South Australia
    Posts
    1,141

    Default

    I was three when dad gave me my very own saw, I was told to only cut wood with it. One day mum and dad heard some noise in my sisters room and come to find me sawing along the front of a chest of draws, dad turned to mum and said “Well, it is wood”
    I was in the shed with dad well before I was 3 and I would help or hinder him in any way I could, be it with wood or with cars.
    My kids have all been in the shed with me from about 3 as well, hammers and nails or a screwdriver and pre-drilled holes. My eldest girls are now 15 and love to make things including helping me make their ukuleles!
    I think that if the adults are sensible then there is more to gain than loose.

  6. #20
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Perth WA Australia
    Posts
    828

    Default

    IMO you'll know when they are ready.

    Some kids are really careful with what they do some are not, the ones who are not probably needs a few more years, whilst the ones that are careful will be ready.

    Plus it depends on what they are doing, obviously if they can't see past the table saw, probably not a good idea. I've got friends who have their kids in the shed when they're 3, not doing a whole lot just bashing stuff with a mallet and playing with his impact driver, obviously no bits installed.

  7. #21
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Newcastle
    Posts
    337

    Default

    I was in the shed before I was in primary school, sanding with an air sander, hammering things, cutting with a hand saw. I have cut myself, hit my fingers with hammers etc, all good learning experiences. My strongest advice, isolate all your machines by turning off at the wall and only turn on at the wall when you want to use them. A green start button is a tempting thing to press and can be fatal.

  8. #22
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Sunbury, Vic
    Age
    84
    Posts
    2,713

    Default

    I had an isolating switch in my garage/workshop when my kids were small. It was up in the rafters where I was the only one who could just reach it.
    Tom

    "It's good enough" is low aim

  9. #23
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Riverhills, Brisbane
    Age
    64
    Posts
    1,216

    Default

    Last weekend my daughter asked me if I could repair an old timber chair that had become wobbly due to the dowels working loose.

    Her partner's 9 yo daughter (from an earlier relationship) has shown interest in woodworking so my daughter brought her along to see the shed and to see how I was going to repair the chair.

    I didn't want her to sit on a seat and just watch so I asked her to help as she had bought her own tape measure. I asked her to measure the diameter of the existing dowels as 1 of the existing dowels had snapped and I had to replace it.

    She was keen as mustard and I let her use my digital calipers to measure the dowels as well as describing how it can be used for different measurements from diameters to depth of narrow holes. She used it to measure the depth of the existing dowel hole and the length of the existing dowels.

    After we repaired the chair, my daughter asked if there was something else for the her to do like sweep up the floor. I said that would be no fun so I set up the machine that could do the least damage to her fingers....the Scrollsaw fitted the bill and she had a great time drawing her own shapes on some board and then cutting them out.

    It was a fun morning to see a young person interested in wood work.


    Anna 2.jpg Anna 1.jpg

  10. #24
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    bilpin
    Posts
    3,551

    Default

    My kids have been in the workshop from when they could walk. They soon picked up on putting things back where they found them and keeping back from moving machinery. When it came time to learn the art of using tools it was almost like second nature to them as they had seen it done so often.
    My Dad was a detective and spent a lot of time in court. As a kid he would take me along from about the age of four. I have always been grateful as the early education into the formalities of the place have put me at ease any time I have been in a court room.

  11. #25
    Join Date
    Jun 1999
    Location
    Westleigh, Sydney
    Age
    77
    Posts
    9,542

    Default

    After we repaired the chair, my daughter asked if there was something else for the her to do like sweep up the floor. I said that would be no fun so I set up the machine that could do the least damage to her fingers....the Scrollsaw fitted the bill and she had a great time drawing her own shapes on some board and then cutting them out.
    My Granddaughter likes sanding, so I'm not going to discourage her. However, cutting out shapes she's drawn on the scroll saw is the perfect introduction to power tools, and she can make useful gifts. Cut out two shapes, glue a piece of 40x19 mm wide timber between them, add a bit of paint and hey presto, you have a letter rack.
    Visit my website
    Website
    Facebook

  12. #26
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    North Of The Boarder
    Age
    68
    Posts
    16,794

    Default

    In nappies get them use to sounds & smells. My own 3 were all keen from the time they could steady on their own feet. Not long did it take to become hands on be it in the shed or garden.

    Sent from my SM-T580 using Tapatalk

  13. #27
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    4,470

    Default

    Can't speak for "Sons" although my niece was 3yrs old had to build her special tiny bench, now she runs her own antique furniture restoration business

  14. #28
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Imbil
    Posts
    1,167

    Default

    My youngest grandchildren were boy 5 girl 4 and I couldn't keep them out of the workshop if I had wanted to they would go through the bin and constantly ask can I have this of the off cuts and the things they produced were mind boggling monster trucks/ castles and the likes their imagination is endless. They would be gluing and nailing all day while I was doing the same, they were hours well spent enjoy them for as long as they want to be there.
    Regards Rod.
    Rod Gilbert.

Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

Similar Threads

  1. Shed for young men
    By MAPLEMAN in forum MEN'S SHEDS / MEN IN SHEDS
    Replies: 39
    Last Post: 29th September 2015, 02:40 AM
  2. Sons Of Anarchy
    By wombatie in forum SCROLLERS FORUM
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 30th August 2014, 02:45 AM
  3. My sons toy box
    By pellcorp in forum FURNITURE, JOINERY, CABINETMAKING - formerly BIG STUFF
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 14th November 2011, 08:57 PM
  4. My sons new basinet / cot / bed
    By Dr DBW in forum WOODWORK PICS
    Replies: 22
    Last Post: 16th August 2010, 06:01 PM
  5. My sons bed is nearly finished!
    By flynnsart in forum WOOD WHISPERING WOMEN
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 10th February 2008, 04:51 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •